Wire-line socket



Feb. lil, 1930.

D. BAKER WIRE LINE SOCKET Filed April 2b, 1929 il Z `Patented Feb.' 11, 19.30

i UNITED STATES PATEN'D OFFICE DLBERT BAKER, or` TULSA, OKLAHOMA,` Assienon or ONE-HALF 'ro JOHN J. FKIEL,

OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA WIRE-LINE socKnfr Application `filed April 20,

the socketsemployed for Connecting wire cable to the drilling tools of well drilling apparatus. In accordance with the present practice, the wire line socket employed is usually connected to therwire line by introducing the wire line through a smaller to a larger bore of the socket and then surrounding the inner end of the wire line with babbitt, which is allowed to set thereabout. The Babbitt metal provides only a support and will not permit the swiveling at the connection of the wire line and socket as is necessary to eliminate the twisting action resulting from the alternately tightening and loosen ing of the strands of the wire line. This method of providing connection is objectionable in that replacement of the connection which must be made every thirty-six or fortyeight hours of `drilling time requires a considerable time. The old babbitt must be melted out, the cable cut and a re-babbitting operation performed. This naturally requires considerable time during which the drilling operation is interrupted and the crew idle. i

Accordingly, an important object of the invention is to provide a structure which enables a swiveling connection between the wire line and socket, and which permits a much more rapid replacement ot the wire line when suchreplacements become necessary.

A further object of the invention is to produce an apparatus ot this character which may be employed in the present type of socket and which may be very readily and cheaply produced.` c

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure `1 `is a vertical sectional view through awire line socket having cable connected means constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the plug removed;

i929. serial No. 356,672.

Figure 3 is a Section on line `3--3 of Figurel; Figure l is a plan view of the plug; Figures 5 and G are a plan and side elevation of a wedge for separating the connector sect-ions.

Referring now more particularly` to the drawings, the wire lin-e socket 'comprises a bodyl() adapted at its lowerend as indicated at 11, for engagement with the tool. This body has extending upwardly therein from its lower end a bore 12, the upper end ot which is inthe form of an upwardlytapering seat 13. The upper end of the body has a reduced extension 1li, having a smaller bore 15 eXtend- 65 ing axially therethrough and communicating atit-s lower end with the upper end of the main bore 12. The construction recited is that ordinarily provided in wire line sockets. ln accordance with my invention, I dispose within the bore 12 a sleeve 16, the upper end of which is slantingly cut, as indicated at 17, and adapted to have swiveling engagement against the seat 13 at the upper end ot the main bore. This sleeve has `an upwardly tapering bore 18, and disposed within this bore is a pluglrQ having a corresponding taper7 and having at its `lower end which projects from the lower end ot the Sleeve when the plug is fully seated7 an enlarged head 20. This plug is formed with aspiral groove 21, having atleast one complete convolution, the upper end ot this groove communicating with a cove 22 extending to the approximate center of this smaller upper end. This groove is of slightly less-depth than vthe diameter of the wire line, and in use ofthe apparatus, the wire line is passed through the openings 15 and 12 through the boreof the sleeve, and then wound in the groove 21 of the plug after which the plug is inserted in y the sleeve, and the upper end ofthis sleeve caused to engage seat 13 by the pull on the wire line. y y It will be obvious that the` frictional engagement of the wire line with the plug will cause the plug to more firmly seat` in the sleeve, and that the frictional engagement ot the wire line Awith the sleeve and plug will Vprevent any longitudinalmovement of the I" iently accom lished by use of al wedge suchn as shown in igure 6 which has a slot 23 to receive the plug immediately above the head.

The lower end of sleeve 16 is preferably slightly slantingly cut, as indicated Vat 24. in order that the strain applied by this wedge may be applied axially to the sleeve and plug.

Sincekthe construction herein illustrated is capable of a very considerable range of change and modification without in any manner departing from the spirit of the invention, I accordingly do not limit myself to such Specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim l. In combination with a Wire line socket having a main bore and a reduced bore for the entrance of wire line to the main bore, the junction of said bores providing a seat. a sleeve engaged against said seat, the sleeve having a bore, and a plug inserted in the bore of the sleeve and having an exterior helically extending groove for the reception of the wire line.

2. In combination with a wire line socket having a main bore and a reduced bore for theentrance of wire line to the main bore, the junction of said bores providing a seat, a sleeve engaged against said seat, the sleeve having a bore, and a plug inserted in the bore of the sleeve and having an exterior helically extending groove for the reception of the wire line, said groove being of less depth than the diameter of the wire line.

3. In combination with a wire line socket having a main bore and a reduced bore for the entrance of wire line to the main bore, the junction of said bores providing a seat, a sleeve engaged against said seat, the sleeve having a bore, and a plug inserted in the bore of the sleeve and having an exterior helically extending groove for the reception of the wire line, the plug and bore of the sleeve having corresponding upward tapers.

4. In combination with a wire line socket having a main bore and a reduced bore for the entrance of wire line to the main bore, the junction of said bores providing a seat, a sleeveengaged against said seat, the sleeve having a bore, and a plug inserted in the bore of the sleeve and having an exterior helically extending groove for the rreception of the wire line, the plug and bore of the sleeve having corresponding upward tapers, the lower end of the plug having a shoulder confronting the lower end of the sleeve.

5. In combination with a wire line socket having a main bore and a reduced bore for the entrance of wire line to the main bore, the junction of said bores providing a seat, a sleeve engaged against said seat, the sleeve having a bore, and a plug inserted in the bore of the sleeve and having an exterior helically extending groove for the reception of the wire line7 the lower end of the plug having a shoulder confronting the lower end of the sleeve.l

6. In combination with a wire line socket having a main bore and a reduced bore for the entrance of wire line to the main bore, the junction of Vsaid bores providing a seat, a sleeve engaged against said seat, the sleeve having a bore, and a plug inserted in the bore of the sleeve and having an exterior helically extending groove for the reception of the wire line, the plug and bore of the sleeve having corresponding upward tapers, the lower end of the `plug having a shoulder confronting the lower end of the sleeve, the lower end of the sleeve being slantingly cut.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

' DELBERT BAKER. 

